Chromobacterium violaceum

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative, facultativeanaerobic, non-sporing coccobacillus. Cells are motile with the help of a single flagellum which is located at the pole of the coccobacillus. Usually, there are one or two more lateral flagella as well. C. violaceum is part of the normal flora of water and soil of tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It produces a natural antibiotic called violacein, which may be useful for the treatment of colon and other cancers. The species grows readily on nutrient agars, producing distinctive smooth low convex colonies with a characteristic striking dark violet metallic sheen (due to violacein production). Some strains of the bacteria which do not produce this pigment have also been reported. It has the ability to break down tarballs.